Oil pump gear drive

ABSTRACT

A compact Gearbox used to drive a dry sump oil pump for internal combustion engine for High Performance Application. The oil pump drive is driven by an auxiliary shaft using rotating power supplied from the camshaft through a set of helical gears. The oil pump drive supplies power to rotate the pump through a set of spinal bevel gears arranged in appropriate manner to proved the correct pump rotation.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of No. 60\25562 filed on date Dec. 14, 2000 and the entirety which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to an internal combustion engine used in high performance applications. This geardrive allows for a more compact mounting configuration thus providing a simplified means of plumbing. Furthermore being shaft driven this geardrive provides a more reliable means of driving the oil pump. In addition to being a more reliable means of driving a dry sump oil pump it provides a means for a more secure manner in mounting such types of pumps. The ability to mount a dry sump oil pump also adds a safety feature in that during an engine explosion the excess oil in the engine has been removed by the pump itself and returned to the oil tank isolating the oil from explosion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003]FIG. 1 is a isometric view of showing the oil pump gear drive assembled in its entirety.

[0004]FIG. 2 is an orthographic projection of the body No.1 which supports all the componets of the oil pump gear drive.

[0005]FIG. 3 is an orthographic projection of the spool No.2 which is mounted in the base and supports the bearings that carry the drive shaft No.4 as well as locating the housing No.3.

[0006]FIG. 4 is an orthographic projection of the housing No.3 which is mounted to the body No.1 and provides mounting surfaces for the oil pump.

[0007]FIG. 5 is an orthographic projection of the drive shaft No.4 which carries the drive gear to turn the oil pump it also has an internal hex machined into it to provide a means by which to power it by.

[0008]FIG. 6 is an exploded view to show how the assembly is arranged.

[0009] A compact gearbox used to drive an oil pump for an internal combustion engine for high performance application. Power is supplied to the drive by means of an auxiliary drive shaft which is turned by a camshaft through a set of helical gears which are of appropriate hands as to provide the correct rotation.

A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] This geardrive is made up of 5 basic components 4 of which are made up of aluminum and 1 which is made up of a tool steel shaft. The 1st component to be discussed will be referred to as the base DETAIL #1 shown in FIG. 2, it features a bolt hole configuration by which to secure it to an engine block in such a manner as to support the remaining components. The base incorporates a bore through its center to contain a component which will be referred to as a spool DETAIL #2 shown in FIG. 3. The spool will be discussed in a later paragraph. The base incorporates a bore which has a counter bore so as to locate the spool flush to the bottom of the base. The spool extends through the base to provide a register for the gear housing DETIAL #3 shown in FIG. 4, to locate on. The base incorporates a bolt pattern to secure the gear housing. Furthermore the base is drilled through in a location so as to lineup with the oil inlet hole on the engine block. This hole is sealed by means of an o ring on the engine block side and on the opposite side the hole is tapped for a ½ inch.pipe thread. Any excess material has been removed so as to maintain a lightweight unit. Furthermore this component could be made up of other types of materials such as titanium or other types of alloys. The next component to be dicussed is DETAIL #2 which will be referred to as the spool. As the base is made up of aluminum so is the spool being machined in its entirety. The function of the spool is to locate the geardrive on the engine block by means of a diameter that extends into the engine block, it also supports the drive shaft DETAIL #4 which will be dicussed at a later time. The spool extends through the base and provides a register for the housing to locate on. The spool being concentric throughout its diameters could be made up of other types of materials such as titanium or other types of alloys The next detail to be dicussed is DETAIL #3 shown in FIG. 4, this detail will be referred to as the housing. This housing is made up of aluminum and machined in its entirety. The function of this housing is to provide a means of mounting the oil pump to the geardrive as well as creating a reservoir to provide lubrication for the gears to reside in. The housing is bolted to the base by means of a bolt pattern provided in the base. The housing is located on the base by the extenuation of the spool. As the base provides a bolt pattern for the housing to be secured on so as the housing provides a bolt pattern to secure the oil pump to which would complement the oil pump manufactures specification. The oil pump would be secured in a right angle to the drive shaft and lay parallel to the crankshaft and in either direction or both, forwards or rearwards. The housing has been machined in such a manner so as to remove all the excess material and still maintain the integrity of the component. This housing could be made of other man made materials such as titanium. The last detail to be dicussed is DETAIL # 4 shown in FIG. 5 it will be referred to as the drive shaft. This drive shaft is supported in the spool and is carried by two axial bearings and supports the spiral bevel gear, its mating gear is fixed to oil pump. The gears and bearings are purchase items. In addition, the drive shaft is made up of steel but could be made of another type of alloy. 

1. What I claim as my invention is a compact oil pump drive system for an internal combustion engine for use in the automotive performance industry.
 2. As set forth in claim 1, the oil pump drive mounts directly to the engine block in place of the original oil pump allowing for a more convenient application.And a variety of different manufactured oil pumps to be used.
 3. As set forth in claim 2, the oil pump drive is located on the engine by an extension of the oil pump drive No.2A being cylindrical in shape that extends into the engine block.
 4. As set forth in claim 3, the oil pump drive is secured to the engine block by means of threaded fasteners through holes 1C in the body No.1 of the oil pump drive into the existing apertures in the engine block. Holes 1C are counter bored No.1F from the bottom to provide a flush mounting surface.
 5. As set forth in claim 4, the oil pump drive is powered by means of an auxiliary shaft which is driven by the camshaft of the engine through a set of intermeshing helical gears.
 6. As set forth in claim 5, the oil pump drives main body No.1 supports a component into itself, spool No.2 which carriers the oil pump drive shaft No.4 on a pair of radial bearings which are supported in bore 2E.
 7. As set forth in claim 6, the oil pump drive's main body No.1 also supports a housing No.3 which carries the mounting holes No.3A.
 8. As set forth in claim 6, the spool No.2 supports a pair of bearings in bore 2E, which carry the oil pump drive shaft No.4. And is located in the main body No.1 in a bore 1A that extends through the body No.1. This bore 1A has a counterbore 1B on the top side which is a register for the embossment 2B on No.2.
 9. As set forth in claim 8, the oil pump drive shaft No.4 resides in a pair of radial bearings which is housed in the spool No.2 and retains a keyway No.4B in the bottom end lengthwise to its axis, a through hole lengthwise, and a hex No.4 machined in the top end which is used for the transfer or power. The keyed end supports a spiral bevel gear used to drive the oil pump.
 10. As set forth in claim 7, the housing No.3 which is supported by the main body No.1 locates by means of a bore 3B in the top that registers on the extension of the spool No.2, that extends through the main body No.1 and is secured by threaded fastener's in a pattern 1E that is complimented by the main body No.1 in additional the housing No.3 provides mounting surfaces 3E for the oil pump on both front and rear ends. Further more the housing No.3 incorporates a bore 3D through from front to rear to provide a cavity for the pump gears to operate in.
 11. As set forth in claim 6, the oil pump drive main body No.1 incorporates a through hole 1G which aligns with the oil passage to the engine. And provides oil to pass through the main body No.1 from the oil pump to the engine. The hole 1G has an oring ID on the top to seal against the engine block and is taped on the bottom for a one half inch. taper pipe tap. 